Bradenton, FL Accessory Structures: Shed & Carport Rules (2026)

Section 5.1.2.3 of the Bradenton Land Use Regulations covers storage buildings, greenhouses, utility sheds and bath houses at a residence. Each is limited to 200 square feet, and the limit is two per residence. A storage building or utility shed of 120 square feet or less, installed with wood floors, skids, or tie downs without concrete flooring, does not require a building or use permit.

The general accessory structure rule in section 5.1.2 applies on top of that. Accessory structures shall not be located within the front yard except as otherwise noted and must maintain a five-foot setback from any side or rear property line. The section also says accessory structures are limited by the ground coverage maximums listed on schedule 3.2.2.1, the Dimensional and Area Regulations for Residential Districts.

An accessory structure larger than 120 square feet, or one with a wall height greater than ten feet, must meet two compatibility standards. The architectural style, exterior materials and colors must match those of the principal structure. If the overall height of the structure exceeds 12 feet, the roof pitch must match that of the principal structure.

Chapter 5.0 states that accessory structures require a permit unless otherwise stated in the Land Use Regulations, and section 2.2.1 requires a zoning permit from the PCD director before the construction or alteration of any structure, including accessory structures. The permit waiver in section 5.1.2.3 speaks of a building or use permit, and the text does not say how it interacts with the zoning permit, so the PCD director's office is the place to confirm the permit path for a specific shed. Filing fees are set in appendix A to the Land Use Regulations. A shed larger than 200 square feet, or a third shed, is outside section 5.1.2.3 and is handled as a principal use under Chapter 5.0.

On non-residential property the standard differs: accessory structures keep a 10-foot setback from any property line except in a UC/UCBD zoning district, and accessory buildings are limited to a total equivalent of 25 percent of the ground floor square footage of the principal building.